Good The Minutemen And Their World Essay Example

Before the American Revolution, the most important controversy in Concord was the concern of the tax-supported church. The controversy also saw issues, whether the people in the faraway areas want to set up their own church or readmit to the Church of Concord. Dr. Joseph Lee was the focus of trouble. Another central figure was William Emerson, the new pastor of the church and the grandfather of Ralph Waldo Emerson. The government lowered the price of the commodities, tricking the colonists into accepting the tax. The community required a special force called Minutemen, who were the citizen soldiers in order to alarm the community when the British approach, so that they can take immediate actions with arms and ammunition.
The people of Concord were undergoing a series of social, economic and religious revolutions apart from their struggle for their independence. Prior to the revolution, the Concordians were well developed and lived happily in their own world, although they faced several local issues. However, the daily social problems of the people interfered with their social and economic lives, because the government took keen interest in every incident that occurred in the society. The deep involvement and interference from the government led to massive political conflicts. One of the major examples is the deterioration of relationships between parents and their children. As a result of over farming, the agricultural land was used up, which led to the issue of division of land among too many sons of the family.
Another reason is the widening gap between the generations that continued as a legacy through the families. All the issues that were prevailing were put on a temporary hold with the outgrowth of a revolution. The people had to stay united in order to overcome the British enslavement. The people wanted to remain at their free will to hold back and protect their traditional living, which opened up the people of Concord to change themselves. The tremendous changes that took place in the lives of the Concordians became the building blocks of the democratic society. The protection of freedom was the basic idea of the men in the society and the men of all the ranks took necessary steps in this regard. Dr. Joseph Lee, one of the biggest landowners in the town, was abnegated membership in the local congregation.
The incidents that led to the revolution were the Sugar Act of 1765, the Stamp Act of 1765, the Tea Act of 1763 and the Declaratory Act of 1766. The acts were introduced by the British in order to pay heavy taxes to the British. On the event of revolution, William Emerson, new pastor of the church sent his church members to fight to fight in the revolution with slogans. One famous slogan of William Emerson means that every single step taken by the people on the occasion of revolution must be on a defensive note and that God must forgive the people who are participating in the war.
The people knew that the British would visit Concord to forfeit the military supplies built up by the people. The only issue left unanswered was the movement of the governor. Paul Revere, another famous figure, hurried out to Lexington to warn about the approaching British strike and a day earlier, Paul ordered the dispersal of the stores at Concord into the nearby adjacent towns. After the revolution, the Provincial Congress empowered enlisted men to elect their own leaders. The newly elected delegate, who was elected by the people, was sent a set of strict rules.
The new emphasis shifted to the equal representation of the people rather than the religious status. By the beginning of the nineteenth century, there were no slaves in the state of Massachusetts; however, the mistreatment of blacks still prevailed in the society. The main issue of the Concordians was to fight for freedom. Hence, any hypocritical situation that led to the enslavement was considered on an extremely serious note. The town of Concord boomed up after the revolution, which saw new merchants moving into the town, and the establishment of new industries, although the economy was based on agriculture on a large extent.
The revolution exposed the people of Concord to new places, new ideas and new values. The post- revolution also witnessed the stabilization of agriculture by reform and intensive farming. The advancements in agriculture, in turn resulted in a rich and decent social life of the people from the old social lives. The issue of the widening gap between the generations was also resolved and the heirs of the family continued their profession of farming using modern farming techniques, instead of migrating to distant lands. On the whole, the lives of the people of Concord improved to a greater extent after the revolution. Concord transformed from a model colonial town to a richer economic and social place. The patriots were forced to take up arms to retain their traditional autonomy and social customs.
The war exposed the people to new ideas and changes in the society. One change that took place was that the representatives were considered as the hired agents of the people rather than "fathers". By the 1820’s, the couples of Concord started practicing birth control methods. Self defense became the means to the new freedom. The town of Concord, where the Revolution initially started, produced America's greatest philosopher of progress, Ralph Waldo Emerson and one of the greatest critics, Henry David Thoreau. The revolution was the beginning of a fight for independence, but dramatically ended in victory. The revolution also changed the social and political structure of America to a great extent.